Type or Write the Maine Bar Exam?

This just in from an anonymous blawgger:

"Thank you for the useful link [to the Maine Bar Review Podcasts on the Maine Law Website]. I am going to take the ME Bar Exam this summer and was curious if there was a strong preference for typing over writing? I recently took the MA Bar Exam where everyone had to write the essays. Since I was successful, I thought I might write the essays for the Maine Exam but was wondering if this would be a great disadvantage. Also if one chooses to write the exam, are they placed in a separate room than the typers?

Thank you in advance for your help."

Comment to this post and let him/her know about your recent experience, or thoughts on this. . .

CLE sale at the MSBA

The Maine State Bar Association just announced a 50% off sale on continuing legal education products if you pay for them by Monday, June 2nd. Even though MSBA Practice Series Publications and Title Standards are not included in the sale, a lot of people are trying to clear out their CLEs by August and if you're strapped for cash it is good to consider taking advantage of the discount. . .

Poll 2: As "Faux" Lawyers Go, You Say Denny Crane is Tops

You were asked to identify your favorite "faux" lawyer on TV. The votes are in and William Shatner (31%) seems to have it going on for the bare majority of you. Jason Bateman (26%) came a close second and took the silver, with Jeremy Piven grabbing Bronze (21%). Calista was a ways back (10%) with very little support for the Prosecutors of Law and Order (5%) or Nancy Grace (0%). The latter done got a whuppin' by "Other" (5%).

So anyone that wrote "other," tell us who it is and why! Just add a comment to this post.

Successful Feb 08 Maine Bar Exam Applicants Posted Today

For those of you with friends or rivals that sat for last February's Maine Bar Examination, the results are in.

Congratulations also to Kevin J. Crosman who took this Feb's Clegg Award for the highest score among the first time takers at that sitting.

Join our group on LinkedIn

The New Lawyer's Section of the Maine State Bar Association has indeed created a group where you can get LinkedIn!

Members of our Section know that networking can be even more fun and effective when you add 21st Century tools. . .

If you are already an NLS member -- we'll approve you immediately. If not, go to the Maine State Bar Association Website and become an MSBA member now - if you're eligible to join our Section, we'd be glad to get you LinkedIn ASAP.

So who is eligible to join the NLS? Any Maine attorney with an active bar license issued within the last five years. Even if you've practiced longer than five years you are still eligible so long as you are under 36 years old.

Poll 1: Do You Like the "Idea" of Being a Lawyer?

The results are in: minimalist expression reigns supreme here in Vacationland.

It makes me cringe: 17%
Ayuh: 58%
Always have always will: 17%
It's not an "idea," it's a way of life: 23%

Make sure to weigh in on Poll 2 . . ."Faux Lawyers" . . .and Poll 3 "Your Specialities" over there in the right column -->

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Interviews

As described in a recent article in Corporate Counsel, In 2006-2007, Bryan Garner interviewed eight of the nine Supreme Court Justices about legal writing and advocacy. These are the complete interviews. Because the files are large, the videos may take a few moments to start playing.

LawProse is making these interviews available as a public service. Anyone may freely use these videos for educational purposes, with appropriate attribution to Bryan Garner or LawProse.

Maine Courthouses - Call for Facade Photos

Next time you go to a courthouse around the state - snap an image with your cell phone or digital camera of the facade. We'll create a rotating slideshow for the blawg so that attorneys can get a visual of where they may need to drive for work one day soon. Extra points for those with an artistic eye . . .

Email images to nlsmainestatebar(at) gmail.com

Warmer Weather Work Clothes

So you're a new-ish lawyer in Maine and you've got your stock of suits . . . .etc. But it just got warmer outside people! We all know that the second the temperature rises and gives us even a glimpse of spring in our spare time the shorts go on and the hiking/running/biking/kayaking/sailing/go-carting and whatever else outdoors urge overtakes. Okay, maybe not go-carting. But then having to wear the suit or whatever else to the office each day when you're not in Court and not at a client meeting cramps your style and compromises comfort even more than usual. Not everyone has the cash to get an entire wardrobe full of "warm weather suits." So. . . gradually within the realm of acceptable the "dressed up" version of "dressy casual" starts to sneak in. . . For men -- I'd be interested to hear what the options are to dress it down a little bit. How flexible is your workplace re: clothing year round? Do rules change with the seasons? For women, is this just an area where things are always more flexible? The WSJ Juggle blog has something to say about pregnant professionals dealing with dress code problems. Sounds rough.

This area is where the non-firm lawyers have everyone beat. Maine feels like a fairly conservative place as far as firm culture goes, which is surprising given how outdoorsy people and their clients are in this state.

U Maine Law's Exam Review Series Podcasts Online

This just in from blawgger "Legally Blonde" :

The University of Maine School of Law's Bar Exam review series has been posted as a series of podcasts on the Maine Law website. This is a great resource for lawyers from out-of-state who need to pass questions 1 & 2 on the exam to be admitted here...

Check it out.